Golf club’s chalet bid bunkered by planners after fears of setting precedent
A BID to boost a golf club by building 15 timeshare apartments was turned down because councillors feared it could set a dangerous precedent.
The proposal for the extension to Whittlebury Park Golf and Country Club near Silverstone was shunned by South Northamptonshire Council’s development and control committee despite council planning experts recommending it for approval.
Many slammed the current Atrium building as “boring”, adding that the architect must have had an “off day” and showed little confidence in any future development.
The plans failed to give any detail on the design and Councillor John Townsend pointed out the importance in knowing more about the proposed development before approving it.
He said: “We are dealing with an enormous extension to an already huge building in the open countryside. The design of the building is very important and we don’t know any of the details of these apartments.” He went on to quote a scathing review of the building from an architect.
Case officer Robert Fallon judged that the business case of the application outweighed any concerns to expansion and was in accordance with the council’s tourism plans for the area, resulting in good economic benefits.
But Councillor Mary-Anne Sergison-Brooke, vice-chairwoman of the committee, raised concerns that allowing the development could result in an influx of other applications.
She added: “We could set ourselves a precedent that could be followed by every golf club.”
Dave Collins, who spoke at the committee on behalf of the 36-hole golf club, said the club wanted to expand its business by attracting people for long-term stays and increasing the use of the golf course.
He estimated that each timeshare apartment would bring in £50,000 a year into the local economy through jobs, suppliers and through tourists using the town amenities.
Following a discussion about the building’s impact on the countryside, the application was refused.
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Comments
There are 7 comments to this article
Page 1 of 1
HCinthechair
Saturday, February 25, 2012 at 04:28 PMReg ister: Would you happen to be the same person as the architect at the meeting who slated the atrium or is there another person wiling to allow their personal taste to impede the local economy. I happen to like it and I also like their idea of generating tourism, visitors to our county and jobs for our residents. It should be noted the Whittlebury Golf and Country Club is a significant employer of young local people in the area when youth unemployment and the rural economy is a real issue. I hope SNC get to see this application again.
Tony Clarke
Saturday, February 25, 2012 at 01:49 PMReg Ister, you don't happen to live near whittlebury do you by any chance?
reg ister
Saturday, February 25, 2012 at 01:19 PMIn this case SNC are right, the Atrium at Whittlebury was obviously designed by a child using lego. It is possibly the most ugly building in the county - it makes Greyfriars bus station a palace by comparison. Anyway should these ardent golf fanatics require accomodation on the course there is already a hotel on site, campsites and further accomodastion in the village. Silverstone is also proposing to build hotels within walking distance. Having already ruined the look of the parkland already it should not now be totally destroyed.
Tony Clarke
Saturday, February 25, 2012 at 11:19 AMPrecedent for what! good business? But do we blame the Planners for writing the report? or the blue rinse Shire Tories for accepting it? Whittlebury Golf Club should have called them hunting lodges instead of apartments, that way the application would have flown through
Common sense
Saturday, February 25, 2012 at 08:44 AMSouth Northants have a tourist policy--surprise surprise! Don't come here--seems to be the slogan! Yes it would be a great shame if every golf club built cabins or apartments and created jobs and tourist revenue for the County--dear of dear--and this from the Council that paid £3000 for the potrait of a Councillor--it beggers belief!
willi eckaslyke
Saturday, February 25, 2012 at 08:33 AM£50K pa each??...there's the answer to all our woes then...don't build houses everywhere - build timeshares...The county could be re-named: NORTHAMPTONSHARE
lady muck
Saturday, February 25, 2012 at 07:34 AMThis is Northanmptonshire...Visitors KEEP OUT !
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